I. The Word: 1 Corinthians 11:27-34
27. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 33. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
II. Reflection Questions:
1. Do you search your heart together with the Lord in preparation for worship as a regular spiritual discipline?
2. There is only one Lord and Savior; Do you seek to honor Christ for His body and blood given on the cross for our salvation?
By Jason Scherzer
Paul has begun the 11th chapter by an argument for proper worship with respect to man’s place, and woman’s place in creation. Christ is head over man and God is the head over all things. Paul commands that every aspect of public worship must be orderly and reverent toward Christ. The second half of chapter eleven switches gears a bit, yet continues Paul’s discussion of proper worship, now in the context of the Lord’s Supper, which we may also call Communion or the Eucharist (a word that means giving thanks; e.g., the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed took bread, and gave thanks.)
On the issue of the Lord’s Supper, Paul had no praise at all for the Christians at Corinth, as they selfishly did not wait for each other or serve one another. Some were getting drunk and there was a disorder. Some members remained hungry while others devoured a large quantity of food. The church was looking very unattractive and self-serving.
Paul then describes Jesus’ words and actions on the night that He was betrayed and arrested. It is a most sacred account of the first Lord’s Supper and is also the earliest account, as the letter to the Corinthians was almost certainly written down before the four Gospels. Jesus’ words, “Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me,” appears only in Paul’s writing to the Corinthians, although we do of course have the
Lord’s Supper in the Gospel accounts, before He was arrested, on trial, and taken to the cross. When Jesus spoke these words to the apostles, He was explaining the New Covenant, which is Himself. His body and blood given for the life of all who believe in Him is the New Covenant.
In verse 27, the apostle says that in the context of the Lord’s Supper, any person who takes the bread or the cup in an unworthy manner is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Jesus. In the church at Corinth, Paul considered that those people who insisted on being served first with disregard for the poor were treating the Lord’s Supper with contempt. Equally egregious, those who were getting drunk during the holy sacrament made their worship to be worthless.
In verse 28, the heart is to be self-examined prior to receiving the sacred rite, so as to avoid taking it in an unworthy manner.
Verse 29 shows the heavyweight of taking the Lord’s Supper without “discerning” the body of Christ. To discern His body means a spiritual understanding of mankind’s state of sin and also the perfect, yet necessary sacrifice of the sinless Lord Jesus upon the cross. Discerning entails an attitude of humility toward one’s helpless, the poor situation before God, i.e., I come empty-handed, without any righteous accolades of my own.
Verse 30 is a verse which would be convenient to gloss over quickly. It seems to have an Old Testament severity. Many in the church in Corinth were weak and sick due to taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner – arguing, divisions, drunkenness, disregard for the poor. Each of these areas of sin has its root in failure to “discern” the body of Christ. Another way to understand this is that holy thing are treated in an unholy way, dishonoring God. It is so serious that some people in the Corinthian church were not merely weak or sick; some had actually died; “fallen asleep” is a nice way of saying it.
In verse 31, Paul shows that discernment in this area is essential to keeping out of judgment. Verse 32 explains that God is actually showing discipline within the church because He prefers to show patience that leads to salvation. It is a comparatively light judgment that brings the Corinthian church away from destruction and back into true fellowship.
Verses 33-34 emphasize the communal aspect of the Lord’s Supper, wherein believers celebrate together, not to satisfy hunger, but to obey Jesus’ teaching. “Together” is a key concept that proves Paul’s point that neglect of any members is not permitted within God’s church.
IV. Application:
The church teaching (or doctrine) of the Lord’s Supper did not originate with Paul. Jesus explained why the Christian must observe the Lord’s Supper, which may only be understood in the person of Jesus. He explained both who He is, how He worked salvation in Himself, and why the Lord’s Supper is observed when He said:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” -John 6:47-51, ESV.
He also said:
“… Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” -John 6:53-56, ESV.
The Lord’s Supper is commanded to be observed by the Church, throughout all ages. The weightiness and holy nature of the body and blood of Christ must be in the mindset of every believer. To observe the Lord’s Supper in real faith, confirms in practice a real union with Christ, in the context of community. So let us keep in mind that it is not commanded to be observed individually or privately, but rather within the community of the Church, or a gathering of believers. In a very true sense, all who come to the Lord’s Supper come unworthy, because none can deserve the goodness that Christ gives to us. But in another sense, equally true, all who come in faith (the faith that is a gift of God by the Spirit) are worthy completely. Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
When we observe the Lord’s Supper in this present world, we are showing forth the Lord Jesus and His mighty work of salvation, which tells of the future Lamb’s Supper that is described in Revelation. As well, we show our obedience to the Lord and union with Him by doing so. Dwell deeply on that thought for a moment: as a believer in Christ, your life is forever united with Christ and hidden in Him. The Lord’s Supper is evidence of that fact.
V. Prayer:
Dearest Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for mine on a Roman cross about 2000 years ago. Your sinless, perfect righteousness was given to me, and all of my wretched, unholy, fallen state of sinfulness was placed upon You. Thank You for carrying my sin far away, yet You did not remain in the grave – No! You conquered over death with overwhelming power and glory. Let me take of the Living Bread and drink deeply of the cup that was given for me. Wash me of all my sin and keep me on the path toward being more like You. In Jesus’ beautiful, miraculous, holy name, Amen.
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